Concussion Management

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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS:

That the Board rescind its current Concussion Management Policy, Board Report 11-0727-PO1 and adopt a new Concussion Management Policy.

BACKGROUND:

The Board first adopted a Concussion Management Policy, Board Report 11-0727-PO1, on July 27, 2011. It is recommended that the 2011 policy be rescinded and a new policy be adopted for the following reasons: (1) to increase the scope of the policy to cover all students, including but not limited to student athletes, (2) to update the policy language to be consistent with new scientific understanding of concussions, and (3) to comply with amendments to two Illinois laws, the Interscholastic Organization Act and the Youth Concussion Safety Act.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to safeguard Chicago Public School (CPS) students who have experienced concussions. This policy provides context and clarity for students, school personnel, and parents/guardians in the following ways: (1) identifying concussions, (2) managing students’ return to learn, and in the case of student athletes, return to play, and (3) complying with state law and concussion management requirements set forth by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

POLICY TEXT:

I. Applicability

This policy applies to all CPS students, including athletes or non-athletes, who experience concussions. This includes concussions in or out of school. With respect to athletics, this policy applies to all students who participate in CPS-sponsored intramural, interscholastic, after school, or summer programs, including programs offered by or through a Board contractor, vendor, or partner.

II. Definitions

Concussion: A traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. A student does not have to lose consciousness to have suffered a concussion. Signs and symptoms of a concussion may include the following:

Signs
Dazed or stunned
Confused
Memory Loss
Clumsiness
Impaired Speech
Impaired consciousness
Behavior or personality changes

Symptoms
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Poor balance or dizziness
Light or sound sensitivity
Vision changes
Neck Pain
Change in sleep patterns
Foggy, groggy, or confused
Impaired concentration or memory
Concussion Supervisor: An employee appointed by each school principal to monitor compliance with state law and this policy
Licensed Health Care Professional: Physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois (M.D. or D.O.), Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), or Physician’s Assistant (PA)
Return to Learn: The steps and procedures required for a CPS student to safely return to the academic environment, including physical education, pursuant to the recommendation of a Licensed Health Care Professional
Return to Play: The steps and procedures required for a CPS student athlete to safely return to athletic participation pursuant to the recommendation of a Licensed Health Care Professional

III. Concussion Protocols

Any student athlete exhibiting signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be immediately removed from the athletic event or practice and shall not Return to Play until cleared in writing by a Licensed Heath Care Professional. If a Licensed Heath Care Professional is not immediately available at the athletic event or practice and an injured student athlete has any of the described signs, symptoms or behaviors of a concussion, the athlete shall be promptly taken to a facility for appropriate medical evaluation and care.

The school’s concussion supervisor must be notified when a student who is believed to have suffered a concussion returns to school. Any student who has experienced a concussion must return to school with documentation from a Licensed Health Care Professional with a diagnosis and a plan for how the student can first Return to Learn and then, in the case of a student athlete, Return to Play. Before a student athlete returns to play, the student must be asymptomatic and engaged in full participation in all normal classroom activities.

All cases of suspected concussions that occur at school or during school-sponsored activities must be promptly entered into the CPS incident reporting system.
Prior to participation in CPS athletics programs, all student athletes must submit an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Sports Medicine Acknowledgement and Consent Form (Concussion Information Sheet) along with the student athlete’s Player Record Packet. Further, in the case of student athletes who experience concussions, schools shall comply with the Return to Play documentation requirements and procedures specified by the Office of Sports Administration.
All schools that have certified athletic trainers must additionally report all concussions sustained by student athletes on the IHSA Schools Center web page on a monthly basis as required by the Illinois Athletic Organization Act.

IV. Concussion Awareness Training

High School Athletic Directors and Coaches
High school athletic directors and coaches must complete concussion awareness training and a Concussion Management Program Examination in accordance with IHSA requirements.
Elementary and Middle School Coaches
Elementary and middle school coaches must complete concussion awareness training and submit appropriate certifying documentation in accordance with the requirements specified by the Director of Sports Administration.

V. Guidelines

The Chief Executive Officer or designee is authorized to issue Guidelines for the effective implementation of the requirements of this Policy.

VI. Compliance

Failure to comply with this Policy may subject employees to discipline up to and including dismissal.

Policy References

Amends/Rescinds	Rescinds 11-0727-PO1
Cross References
Legal References	Interscholastic Organization Act, 105 ILSC 25, Youth Sports Concussion Safety Act, 410 ILSC 45, and Municipal Code of Chicago Chapter 7-22